[U] the process of starting a new organization or group

构成，组成;

the formation of a new government

新政府的组成

[U] the process by which something develops into a particular thing or shape

形成:

the substances which lead to the formation of ozone

形成臭氧的物质

We now know a lot more about the early stages of planetary formation.

我们现在对行星形成过程的早期阶段有了更多的了解。

[C] the way in which a group of things are arranged to form a pattern or shape

排列方式，编队:

troop formations

部队编队

in formation, if a group of planes, ships, soldiers etc are moving in formation, they are flying, marching etc in a particular order or pattern

编队飞行（行进）:

a squadron of aircraft, flying in formation

编队飞行的飞行中队

[C,U] rock or cloud that is formed in a particular shape, or the shape in which it is formed

〔岩石或云朵的〕形成物;〔岩石或云朵的〕形状:

the canyon's impressive rock formations

峡谷里壮观的岩层

[C,U] [technical] society, politics etc seen as a system of practices and beliefs

〔社会、政治等的〕形态:

Marx founded a new science: the science of the history of social formations.

马克思创立了一门新的学科 社会形态历史学。